Boss Infantino already has ideas: FIFA reacts to extreme heat games at the Club World Cup

Boss Infantino already has ideas FIFA reacts to extreme heat games at Club World Cup 14.07.2025, 08:00

Playing in the midday and afternoon heat is taking its toll on professional footballers at the Club World Cup. The world governing body is considering adjustments for next year's World Cup. One point: making better use of the covered stadiums.

FIFA's world governing body has learned some lessons from the extreme heat at the Club World Cup in the USA, which concluded on Sunday with Chelsea FC's victory in the final. FIFA is considering adjustments to the schedule for next year's World Cup finals for national teams.

"The heat is one point," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino, reflecting on the experience after the 63 matches. However, the tournament, which will feature 48 national teams for the first time and 104 matches next year, will have several covered stadiums. He announced that they intend to make greater use of these for the early games.

Use covered stadiums more during the day

The coaches and players of FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund also complained about the extreme conditions during the tournament, especially with kickoff times of 12:00 PM or 3:00 PM local time, at certain venues and in completely open stadiums. "It's really crazy. It takes a lot of energy," said national player Leon Goretzka, referring to the special challenges of the intense heat and high humidity in the American summer. The Bayern and Borussia Dortmund players were each able to compete once in the covered and air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Conditions there were ideal.

One year, the games will be played in Mexico, Canada, and the USA from June 11 to July 19. In addition to Atlanta, arenas in Vancouver, Dallas, and Los Angeles also have roofs. Other stadiums at least offer shaded areas on the pitch through covered stands.

"The kick-off time is very important"

"A very important point is the kickoff time," said BVB coach Niko Kovac after BVB's quarterfinal exit against Real Madrid at the final stadium in New York. "The fact that the players are exposed to the midday sun, where it's so hot that a mere mortal shouldn't go outside, and the footballers are expected to perform at their best, is very borderline," criticized the BVB coach. "I wish they would show some consideration for the players."

FIFA is reportedly planning four kickoff times on match days. The German national team will certainly not play exclusively in the evenings (local time). After all, the television stations that pay a lot of money for the broadcasting rights prefer to show the national team live during German prime time rather than at night.